Buffalo in the Bucket - Bethany Kriegel - Sunset Hills Bison
Get ready to fall in love with Buffalo in the Bucket, a captivating new children’s book that brings to life the incredible true story of Daisy, a spunky bison calf with a heart full of courage. Written by Bethany Kriegel, the passionate owner of Sunset Hills Bison Ranch near Malcom, this tale is bursting with adventure, compassion, and the unbreakable bonds of family.
It all started with a daring rescue at the ranch, where Kriegel and her family used a skid loader to save an abandoned baby bison calf, followed by tender late-night bottle feedings. “This heartwarming story, set on our Sunset Hills Bison Ranch, shows that family isn’t just about blood—it’s about who shows up and stays,” Kriegel says with a smile. “It’s a sweet mix of adoption, faith, perseverance, and the wild world of bison ranching, wrapped in love and acceptance.”
Kriegel, who runs the ranch alongside her husband, Carl, and their family, knew this unforgettable experience had to be shared. “The rescue was so wild, I just had to turn it into a story,” she laughs. Wasting no time, Kriegel wrote the book shortly after the April rescue, diving into modern tech to bring Daisy’s journey to life. “I used AI to create the illustrations and edited them with software,” she explains. “Let’s just say I could write a whole book about AI mishaps!”
Spanning 27 pages, including some fun bonus content, Buffalo in the Bucket is perfect for kids ages 5–13, though readers young and old have been charmed by its warmth and spirit. For Kriegel, sharing stories from her bison ranch is deeply personal. “Bison hold a special place in my heart,” she says. “This story of an abandoned calf reflects the beauty of adoption and resilience—themes close to me, as I have two loved ones who were adopted. I’m still searching for my God-given purpose, but sharing hope and educating about bison feels like a big part of it.”
The book hit shelves on June 1, published through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Kriegel kept it a secret from most of her family, surprising them by gifting the first printed copy to her niece, Lydia, for her first birthday. “That’s how everyone found out about my little project!” she says with a grin.
About the author
Bethany Kriegel is a Christian author, wife, and mother of four, living out her faith and creativity on Sunset Hills Bison Ranch. Her stories are inspired by real-life adventures—like rescuing an abandoned baby bison—and reflect her deep love for God, family, and the wild beauty of the prairie.
Bethany’s writing blends heartfelt messages with the rugged rhythms of ranch life, often featuring the majestic bison as a symbol of strength, resilience, and God’s grace. Through her books, she hopes to inspire courage, wonder, and a sense of purpose in young readers and their families.
When she’s not writing, Bethany is busy supporting her children at sporting events, caring for animals, welcoming guests to the ranch, or watching storms roll across the Iowa horizon—all while holding tight to faith, family, and wide-open dreams
Priced at $14.99, Buffalo in the Bucket is available on Amazon and at the Sunset Hills Bison Ranch Retail Store. Want to learn more about the ranch and its majestic bison? Visit sunsethills.life for a peek into their world!